Another document prepared for the planners adds: "With its high, part vaulted ceiling this room [drawing room] is unusually lavish and is decorated with a series of classical murals painted on canvas panels, and an original fireplace.

"The murals remain in exceptional condition and are framed by original wooden architrave which wraps around the entire room. The proposed layout has derived from the desire to preserve this as a large open-plan living space rather than sub dividing it into separate rooms."

Locally important

Elm Bank remained a council building until recently, when it was decided it would be one of the authority-owned buildings sold off as work started on the Friargate development where most council staff will be based.

The mansion was ‘locally listed’ by the council to protect it from redevelopment back in 2017 because of its association with Siegfried and its importance to the identity of Stoke and the industrial history of the city.

A report prepared for the council's planning committee back then said: “The building of 9 North Avenue was built in the 1870s, shortly after the estate of Stoke Park was created.

“It was named Elm Bank because of a large number of elm trees.

"It is a good example of Victorian suburban architecture, and the building includes unusual murals.”

Siegfried Bettmann (Image: The Public Catalogue Foundation)

Rich history

In 1884, Elm Bank was the home of Edward Ralphs, a ribbon manufacture, and in 1889 H. Williamson of Stoke School Board lived there.

But by 1905 its most famous former owner had taken up residence - Siegfried Bettmann, who was one of the co-founders of the Triumph Cycle Company in Coventry.

Bettmann was born in Nuremberg in 1863 but moved to Coventry to start the Triumph Cycle Works with fellow German Mauritz J Schulte, building the sprawling Priory Street works in 1894 and becoming a British citizen.

The following year Bettmann married Annie Meyrick and they made a home in the mansion until his death in 1951, aged 88.

He was president of the Coventry Liberal Association, a freemason, a founder member and president of Coventry’s Chamber of Commerce, a Justice of the Peace, and chairman of the Standard Motor Company, and in 1913 he became Mayor of Coventry - the first non-British subject ever to do so.

But the outbreak of World War II and the anti-German feelings that came with it saw some turn against him and he resigned as mayor.

In 1952, the building was bought by Coventry Education Committee and used as a teachers club and resources centre until that facility moved in 1974 to the former Cheylesmore Council School in Mile Lane, which is now called Elm Bank instead.

The building had more recently become home to Coventry City Council teams, including the Learning and Behaviour Support Service, the Education Psychology Service and the Integrated Primary Mental Health Service.

What happens now?

The planning application is still to be decided by the council's planning committee.

A public consultation is currently taking place to get views on the potential changes and runs until September 20.